Free and paid VPN services both have their advantages. Most business users or serious personal users, however, will want to go with a paid option. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider about each.

Free VPN

The pros of free VPN services include:

The price, obviously

It’s easy to quite using one service and start using another

You can use different services for different nations

No contracts

Remember that some free VPN services may not be what they seem and may, in fact, be vectors for viruses and malware. Some paid VPN providers offer small, free accounts as ways of promoting their services. These are usually the safest options for getting a free VPN services.

The cons of free VPN services include:

Limited bandwidth

No tech support

Software may contain adware or malware

No guarantee of availability when you log on

Slow service

Paid VPN

Paid VPN services are really the only options for serious users. The benefits, compared to free VPN services, are many. There are sometimes issues with understanding how the billing works. Remember: block accounts allow you to download based on a total amount of bandwidth and must be repurchased once you reach that limit; unlimited accounts allow you to download as much as you want and usually bill monthly.

Pros of paid VPN:

Reliable service

Usually much faster than free VPN

Tech support

Option to increase/decrease service plan

Reliable terms of use and privacy agreements

Software is usually updated and improved regularly

Generally many more server options than free services

Cons of paid VPN:

Cost

Switching providers may be difficult

Limited bandwidth accounts may not be enough for serious users

Which to Choose?

If you barely use a VPN and just need to have the option, you may be completely happy with a free account. One of the free accounts offered by promotions by the large VPN providers will be the safest bet. If they discontinue the account, just find another provider.

Paid accounts will be necessities for anyone who really needs to have a VPN connection available. If your business or your personal privacy requires that you have some sort of security, then you’ll want to go the paid route. If you have issues with the service, you can call tech support. If you’re not happy with the service at all, you can just sign up with someone else and see what they offer.